Historic Zoning Commission

Fourth and Gill H-1: Level II

5-J-20-HZ

Applicant Request

Level II. Construction of addition or outbuilding

Construction of a second-story deck on top of a previously approved, new flat-roof porch. Deck will be accessed from an existing rear dormer, which will receive a new full-light, painted wood door. Deck will be 13'-6" wide by 8' deep, with a 36" tall wood guardrail to match the guardrail on the first floor porch (square wood posts with wood pickets set into the top and bottom rails). Deck floor will be 3/4", pressure-treated wood decking. To support the deck, additional roof framing and two additional columns will be added to the lower porch.

Site Info

One-story frame residence with a hipped roof with lower cross gables, clad in asphalt shingles. Exterior is clad in vinyl siding and house rests on a continuous, raised brick foundation. One-story, shed-roof porch extends the right half of the façade, supported by turned wood columns. Windows are one-overone, double-hung sash. Interior offset brick chimney. Irregular plan.

1. 610 Caswell Avenue is a contributing resource to the Fourth and Gill National Register Historic District and Historic overlay.

2. The proposed deck would be placed on top of an existing flat roof on a non-historic porch, on the rear elevation. Placement of the proposed deck is appropriate.

3. The applicant has noted the intent of the second-story deck as providing a use for the rear dormer, which is currently disproportionately sized for the rear elevation.

4. Design guidelines note that houses in Fourth and Gill do have two-story porches, with upper-story balconies. This guideline generally refers to façade elevation porches, and the second-story rear deck, smaller than the porch below it, is a unique form. However, it is small in size and would not detract from the overall integrity of the house.

5. The deck is not visible from the public right-of-way. The deck could be easily removed without effect on any character-defining features of the house.

6. Materials proposed for the deck include wood pressure-treated decking, a square wood balustrade to match the first-story guardrail, and square wood posts. The second-story deck will require two additional support columns to be installed on the first-story porch, will not alter the overall appearance of the non-historic porch. The necessary additional roof framing will be obscured with wood beadboard ceiling. The proposed materials are appropriate.